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CHAPTER 1

This is suicide.

Sam Bellamy stood on the deck of the Integrity, a seventy-foot private research vessel currently anchored in the Atlantic Ocean about twenty miles off the coast of Maine. The waves were choppy and the wind brisk, but not too bad considering it was late November.

She sensed someone coming up behind her but didn't turn around. Best no one know just how hyper alert she was.

"Whatcha looking at, Sam?" Aaron Dexter leaned against the railing beside her, getting way too close, as usual. He'd been hitting on her since they'd boarded the vessel.

Aaron seemed to think he was God's gift to women, and since she was the only woman around, it fell to her to be the recipient of his advances. Lucky her.

She was used to being the only woman on board a boat, had spent her childhood fishing with her father and his crew, good, hardworking men who'd never given her any trouble.

Her chosen career had taken her all over the world, from the deserts of Egypt, to the dense, humid jungles of South America and the mountains of China. She'd run from drug lords, smugglers, and slave traders. But being on this yacht just miles away from the coast of Maine was her most dangerous assignment to date.

"What do you want, Aaron?" She kept her voice level and filled with disinterest. It was better not to encourage him in any way.

He turned and leaned his back against the railing before giving her what she considered his patented seduction smile. She wondered if he practiced it in a mirror. She could have told him it was wasted on her. She'd rather date an alligator — full apologies to the alligator for the comparison.

"Not a friendly sort, are you?" Rather than driving him away, her disinterest only seemed to be encouraging him. Not good.

She supposed most women would find him good-looking, with his thick blond hair being ruffled by the wind and his dark brown eyes watching her intently. He was big and strong. That was his job. He was here ostensibly as security, and she knew he was watching her.

"I'm here to do a job," she reminded him. She was an archaeologist specializing in ancient languages and mythology. Her passion was ancient lore and magic, the things that most other scholars scoffed at. She was interested in mystical artifacts and creatures only whispered about in ancient texts and hinted at in paintings and carvings.

By some fluke of nature, she'd been born with a sixth sense when it came to such items. Being able to find them, even in remote and desolate areas, was what had allowed her to get grants and funding for digs. That had led to a teaching position. Her fellow archaeologists might scoff at her area of study, but there was no denying she got results on a dig.

She'd been chasing such artifacts all her life. They were like a hum in her blood whenever she was near them. And right now, her blood was practically singing. Whatever was beneath them on the ocean floor was important and rare. The kind of thing men killed for.

Aaron reached out and ran his hand down her arm. She was thankful she was wearing a heavy coat with a sweater and thermal shirt beneath. "That doesn't mean we can't be friendly."

Sam refused to give ground. She couldn't afford to. She was stuck on a small vessel rocking on the waves in the vast ocean. There was nowhere she could run to get away from him. "I was hired to authenticate any artifacts brought up from below. I don't know about you, but I don't want to disappoint our employer."

Aaron scowled, but he did remove his hand. Their employer was not the sort of person you wanted to disappoint.

On the surface, Karina Azarov was a rich businesswoman with interests in pharmaceuticals, business, and technologies. Archaeology was her passion, and she often funded expeditions such as this one. She was also a high-ranking member of the Knights of the Dragon, a secret society that had existed for hundreds of years, if not longer.

The Integrity was Azarov's boat and was currently salvaging items from the Reliant, a vessel that had veered off course and sunk during a storm in the mid-eighteen hundreds. It was one of hundreds that had met their doom off the coast of North America over the years. Not really of note to anyone without family on board. It hadn't been carrying gold or silver when it went down. As far as most people knew it had been a passenger vessel with a small amount of trade goods on board.

Only a handful of people knew the ship had been carrying artifacts belonging to the Knights of the Dragon. Members of the secret society had spent millions of dollars and many years chasing the wreckage, but they'd only recently discovered what they hoped were the ship's remains.

Aaron finally took a step back. "The ROV has located something interesting. The team is getting ready to retrieve it and bring it on board."

The ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, was a godsend in recovery efforts like this. It allowed them to go deeper than a diver could go and to stay down longer. It could also retrieve small or light items. This expedition was well funded, and the ship was outfitted with some of the best equipment available, as well as experienced divers.

It was a dream job, or would be if she wasn't working for some of the nastiest people on the face of the planet. The Knights of the Dragon were obsessed with dragon lore, believing the creatures were real. It was rumored that among the cargo was a scroll or tablet that contained information on how to control one of the mythical creatures.

Of course, she wasn't supposed to know anything about the Knights or their true mission. As far as everyone was concerned, she was an archaeologist here to oversee the authentication of any artifacts. She had to keep it that way. If they knew she was aware of their secrets, she probably wouldn't make it back to port alive.

Sam didn't believe in dragons. They were interesting and fascinating to study, to be sure, but nothing more than myth.

What she did believe in was justice. And the Knights had killed her mentor, the one man who'd taken her under his wing and guided her when other archaeologists and scholars had scoffed at her passion for the mythical, deeming it unimportant.

And for what? A book.

Brian had stumbled onto a one-of-a-kind leather-bound book detailing the secret society, and they'd killed him in order to get it. Not that she had any proof. The police had called it a home invasion gone wrong.

Sam believed otherwise.

After Brian's funeral, she was approached by a rare book dealer, Gervais Rames. He'd claimed to know Brian and had told her a crazy story about the Knights and a rival group he claimed to belong to — the Dragon Guard, whose mission was to oppose the Knights and protect dragons. She'd ignored him at first, but unable to let Brian's death go unsolved, she learned more from Gervais, and her search for answers had led her to this job.

She shivered, suddenly colder than she'd been only seconds before. She pulled her coat more securely around her and her black watch cap more snugly against her ears. Turning away from the ocean, she headed back to the cabin.

Whatever happened, she was going to make certain the Knights didn't get their hands on any artifacts discovered. It was the least she could do for Brian.

* Karina Azarov picked up her silver teaspoon and tapped the expensive silverware against the edge of her crystal wineglass. The murmur of voices lessened and finally stopped. She stared down the table at the dozen other people who had been invited to this meeting. This was the inner circle of the Knights of the Dragon.

Some of them, like her nemesis, Herman Temple, were more than a hundred years old, kept alive by the blood of a dragon. But Temple was beginning to show his age. He'd managed to allow the dragon in his care to die and had lost his supply. Dragon blood lost its potency once it was removed from the creature and couldn't be stockpiled, which was what made dragons so valuable.

These were dangerous creatures with a vast intelligence that was not to be underestimated. There were books that contained recipes for potions that allowed them to capture and contain the beasts, incantations and spells that were rumored to do the same. Karina preferred to stick with the potions. That was science, pure and simple. Drugs, heavy chains, and titanium enclosures were their best weapons.

Thanks to Temple's now-deceased son, they'd lost one such valuable book. They'd also lost Darius Varkas, whom they all believed to be a dragon. It had been several weeks since they'd had any real lead on his whereabouts. The trail had gone cold. But he'd have to surface eventually, and when he did, they'd capture him and the little nobody of a librarian who'd stolen the book and tipped Varkas off.

"Thank you for inviting us to your home." Anton Bruno from Russia stood and lifted his glass. "To your gracious hospitality and your enduring beauty."

The others lifted their glasses and drank. Karina was not moved in the least by his toast. Anton would slit her throat in a heartbeat if he thought it would gain him what he wanted the most — immortality.

That's what they were chasing, the longevity that came from ingesting dragon blood.

Karina was ambivalent about the whole idea of living forever, but she figured she'd change her mind when she started to age. She was currently in her thirties, healthy and strong. For her, this was all about power and money.

Karina waited until Anton had retaken his seat before standing. "Thank you, Anton. And thank you all for coming." This was the annual meeting of the Knights. They often spoke over secured lines, or met one-on-one, but having them all together happened only once a year.

None of them would dare to refuse to come.

"I have located the Reliant." Voices were raised in disbelief and excitement. Karina remained quiet until they settled down once again.

"Where?" Herman Temple demanded.

Karina arched one finely delineated eyebrow at him and then turned her attention back to the table at large. "I have a vessel on site pulling up artifacts as we speak. I'll hear as soon as they find something."

"Are you sure it's the Reliant?" Jeremiah Dent asked. Dent was a close associate of Temple and, like him, bore watching.

"My people assure me it's the right ship."

"Who do we have on board to authenticate?"

Karina was getting tired of being questioned by Temple. "If you'll be quiet long enough, I'll share the details." That shut him up and drew some snickers from other members. No, Temple wasn't well liked in some quarters. Something to remember in case she needed allies down the road.

"I hired Sam Bellamy for the job." She waited and watched as several members frowned.

It was Anton who spoke. "Wasn't she associated with that archaeologist we had to dispose of last year?"

Karina inclined her head.

Anton tipped his glass to her once again. "My dear, once again you seem to have everything well in hand."

"Isn't it dangerous to have her on board?" Temple asked.

Karina sat back down and picked up her fork. Her dinner was getting cold and the chef had outdone himself with the crab soufflé. "I get the artifacts authenticated and then poor Dr. Bellamy will have an accident. So sad really, but these things happen."

Temple slowly began to smile. Really, for a man who'd lived as long as he had, he could be incredibly dense at times.

But Anton wasn't. He was watching her, assessing her every move. He'd already figured out what most of the rest of them hadn't. She was the only one who would have control of the artifact once it was recovered.

When it came to moving dangerous artifacts, secrecy was paramount. It was the same now as it had been when the Reliant had gone down. No one knew exactly what the ship had been carrying, only that it had been valuable to the Knights. If it was a book, it might have been destroyed or damaged beyond use after years on the ocean floor. Karina was hopeful that maybe it was a stone tablet or a scroll stored in an airtight jar or some other container that might protect it. She wasn't sure how much use it would be if it was an amulet or bowl or something of that nature.

Either way, destroyed or intact, she'd know and knowledge was always power.

Karina discreetly glanced at the diamond studded Piaget that graced her wrist. It had cost more than most people make in a year, but she had a weakness for pretty things and occasionally indulged herself. The expensive watch told her it would be at least another hour before she could get rid of this bunch. Their meeting had run long and they had yet to be served dessert and coffee.

A slight movement brought her attention to the door. Birch, her private bodyguard and most trusted man, slipped into the room. He gave his head an almost imperceptible shake to let her know there was no news from the site of the Reliant yet. It could be days before they discovered anything of interest. These things took time. Fortunately she was patient when it came to getting what she wanted.

CHAPTER 2

It had been two days since they'd started recovering artifacts from the seafloor. Sam knew if she wasn't here to keep an eye on things, many of the discoveries would have ended up back in the ocean. The other members of this expedition were after one thing and one thing only — whatever pertained to the Knights of the Dragon.

The phone on her desk rang, startling her from her work. Her heart began to pound, although she tried to remain calm outwardly. "Yes."

"Fine." She hung up the phone and went back to working on her notes, but the computer screen blurred in front of her, the words all running together. She rubbed her eyes but didn't relax her guard, not for one second. She was almost 100 percent sure this room was under surveillance. It only made sense, since she was handling potentially priceless artifacts.

About ten minutes later, Sam took a deep breath, closed her laptop, and headed to the galley to get a cup of coffee. Mug in hand, she headed topside. She really needed a coat, but she wouldn't be staying outside long. All she needed was a breath of fresh air and a few moments alone.

She stepped out onto the deck and huddled beside the door, using the wall of the cabin to block the wind. Voices were raised and a mechanical whir filled the air as the winch brought up the latest batch of artifacts.

Sam watched the choppy waves rock the boat. So far, the weather had been exceptionally good, a rare occurrence for this time of year. She prayed it would hold, at least until she was able to take a dinghy and get off the ship. That was her plan. It wasn't much of one, but there really weren't any other options.

If she found something that belonged to the Knights, she'd take it and run. If they found her, she'd try to destroy it. Whatever worked. There was no way she could let them get their hands on anything that might give them even more power.

Maybe she was delusional to believe her small efforts, taking and destroying one or two small items, might have any effect on the operations of the Knights of the Dragon, but it was all she had. The only way she could possibly enact some kind of justice for her mentor.

And if they didn't find anything? She might still have to make a run for her life. She had a sinking feeling she wasn't meant to survive this trip. She'd been watching and learning about the Knights for the past year, and all the while they'd been monitoring her.

This deadly game of cat and mouse would soon be at an end.

Sam ducked inside and headed back to her temporary lab. She was settled in and working once again when two workers brought in a plastic tub filled with encrusted items under Aaron's watchful eyes.

She waved them over to her right. "Put it there. I'll get to it when I'm done with this." She continued her inspection of the corroded remains of a dueling pistol before logging it into the records she was keeping of each item salvaged from the Reliant.

Aaron scowled but simply nodded and jerked his head at the other men. They hurried back out of the room, leaving her alone with the head of security.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I generously received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a pleasure to read and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Sam is a human determined to that the Knights of the Dragon for killing her mentor/father figure and then disappearing but she's way in over her head.
Ezra is a four thousand year old Water Drakon (part human, part water dragon) who lives on his own island off the coast of Maine, owns a successful marine salvage company and generally keeps to himself other than maintaining contact with his brothers.
He is out keeping an eye on a boat when he happens to see a woman in a dinghy being shot. He rams the boat in his water dragon form which causes it to sink though the humans survive and he rescues the mysterious woman, bringing her to his home. He's leery of her because she could be the enemy but he does what he can to nurse her back to health.
Sam is leery of Ezra at first despite him saving her life because he's a stranger and she's not sure if he might have ill intentions which is perfectly understandable and realistic.
Eventually these two unlikely people learn to trust neither of them is the enemy which grows into a friendship and then a bond that happens only once in a drakon's lifetime.
Danger is just on the horizon though and both will have to make decisions that will either strengthen the bond they have formed or tear it to pieces.
This book was an interesting mix of magic, myth, adventure, steaminess, humor, and a few twists. I'm glad that I read this book and look forward to reading more in this series. With Drakons in the mix, how could I not want to read more and hopefully find out if there's more in this particular world than the four brothers?!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This is an intriguing addition to the Drakon Series. Ezra and Sam's story is passionate and fun. The storyline answered questions but added so much more to the mystery of the Knights of the Dragon. This
series is a must read!

Anonymous

9 months ago

This whole series has me
hopeing for dragons!!!! So.good

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Enjoyed it. A Fun read.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I really like all three so far and need a Nic story to make me happy! Lol!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Caught me from the beginning.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Another great story. I loved it. The story is unique, hot, sexy and thrilling. I can't wait to have the next book.
Thanks NJ for another great and fun book. When can we have the story of Nick.

Rhianona

More than 1 year ago

Sam Bellamy is on an archaeologist, stuck on a ship with people who want her dead. She’s determined to find the object the Knights of the Dragon want so she can keep it from them – she knows they were responsible for killing her mentor. And while she doesn’t believe in dragons, they do. But when Ezra rescues her from the ocean, she finds everything she ever believed in changing.
While this is the third book in the series, it is not strictly necessary to have read the previous books in the series and Ms. Walters provides enough information about the world to inform a new reader without making them feel lost. However, you will likely get more enjoyment from reading the previous books first.
Ms. Walters has written a well-paced adventure full of romance and intrigue and suspense. Sam and Ezra work together really well and while I found some of Sam’s actions to be a bit short-sighted, I can still respect why she made the decisions she did. The world of the Drakons is a rich one and this is a fun series. Drakon’s Plunder” is a worthy entry into this verse and Ezra and Sam are a fun couple.
5 stars.

ReadingInPajamas

More than 1 year ago

✦Review: DRAKON'S PLUNDER (Blood of the Drakon) by N.J. Walters
Publication Date: July 3, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 4.5 Stars
Every time I pick up a book in this series I fall more in love with these drakons! I loved Ezra! DRAKON’S PLUNDER is the third book in N.J. Walters paranormal series, Blood of the Drakon. DRAKON’S PLUNDER is Ezra, a water dragon recluse, and Sam, an archaeologist’s story. Danger, romance and sexy dragons…I loved it! N. J. Walter’s paranormal world of drakons (half dragons/ half men) and knights, set in present day, is unique and exciting. I can’t wait for the next brother’s book and I’m hoping there are more drakons introduced in the series so it can continue. I’m obsessed with these dragons and I highly recommend this series for paranormal fans!
*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~

sweetpotato101

More than 1 year ago

I was really excited for the third installment in the Blood of the Drakon series. I fell in love with Tarrant in book two and the brief glimpses of Ezra, the water drakon, captured my interest and had me breathlessly anticipating this one. I was disappointed to find that Drakon's Plunder fell flat for me.
Here's what I did like. I enjoyed Sam Bellamy, our archeologist. She has a passion for her job and in myths and legends, and to find out that perhaps there's truth to the myths? Perfection! The Knights of the Dragon subplot also plays a huge role throughout the series and it adds a good dose of tension.
Here's what didn't work for me. If you've read some of my other reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan of insta-love. I like angst-ridden, push/pull storylines where the characters have to work for their connection. This book was definitely insta-love. Ezra and Sam don't have time to really talk or develop a connection before falling for each other, and I didn't believe in them as a couple. I was hoping the plot would push forward, but it didn't happen for me.
I think anyone who enjoys insta-love would definitely find this much to their liking! Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

Steph_B

More than 1 year ago

4.5 Stars!
From the start it becomes apparent Sam did the right thing by wanting to exact her revenge despite putting her life on the line. Thank goodness Ezra steps in when he does. What they learn about this item she steals is frightening. In the meantime, the Knights are intent on finding her. Now that Ezra has her, he intends on protecting her and keeping her. Strangely enough, Sam feels the same way. She is in mortal danger but she would do anything to keep the Knights away from Ezra. Can they keep each other safe?
Suspense and mystery take a front seat in this story more so than in the rest of the series. But the love between Sam and Ezra is steamy and passionate. It's good to see that the other brothers and their mates are always in the background with their support. I have enjoyed all three books in this series. Ms. Walter's writing is addictive and compelling. Nic's insight into his life shows that his life isn't the party he makes it out be and I can't wait to read his story. I just hope it's not the end of the series.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to review this great story.

jeanniezelos

More than 1 year ago

Drakon's Plunder, N.J. Walters
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance,
First thing to say is that I didn't realise this was the third book in a series.
I was still able to follow the story, and the characters from the earlier books are referred to here, but not having read them didn't mean I lost the plot so to speak! They look interesting though so maybe a future read?
Anyway, Sam. I liked her. She'd had a tough time as an only child losing both parenst and regarded her mentor highly. He was killed, and having discovered it was a group called Knights of the Dragon, she wants vengeance.
They think she's a simple archaeologist, don't know of her talent for sensing powerful objects and she's keeping it that way. She's under no illusions about what type of people they are and what they plan for her, but she's out to stop them getting their hands on whatever is on the wreck. If they want it then its too powerful for them to have it is her thought, and she's out to stop them any way she can.
She's a great lead, strong and determined with a definite sense of whats morally right.
Then things go wrong, and she finds herself with a strange man, in a place that's unfamiliar. Slowly what happened comes back to her, but she doesn't know if she can trust him or if he belongs to the Knights group.
He's being very cagey which doesn't help, but that's because he doesn't know whether he can trust her. He's got a lot to hide, and a lot to lose if he gets it wrong.
I liked Ezra, hiding in plain sight, very close to his brothers and their mates, he's surprised at the possessiveness he feels for Sam. The Drakon's Tears...I loved that tough.
Between all that there's this sensual thread of arousal spinning between them....
Its a good read, a step up from the Human meets Shifter/Vampire/Supernatural of some sort that dominates the best sellers. Clearly readers love them, but I need a bit more story to my romance and this book delivers.
Its not as solid a story as a Mercy Thompson or Kate Daniels read, but it's an entertaining novel, in a series that sounds to build on each book with a stronger overall story. I do like those.
Stars: four, interesting and absorbing read with an unusual shifter type. Lots of sensual heat and spice too.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

candy-b

More than 1 year ago

Ezra is a Drakon and he lives alone by the sea. Samuel Bellamy is a girl, an archaeologist and is sensitive to objects of power.
The characters are life like, fun, sexy and help keep the story moving. The descriptions are necessary for this story, if you want to know what a drakon is like. The plot takes all this ,mixes it together and comes out with an excellent book. There is danger, intrigue, laughter and sex. I loved the banter between the characters and how smoothly the story flowed. Poor Sam was being hunted and Ezra wanted to protect her. N.J. Walters did a great job and I can't wait till the next one.

BookReview4you

More than 1 year ago

'Drakon's Plunder' by N.J. Walters is book Three in the "Blood of the Drakon" series. This is the story of Sam Bellamy (who is a women) and Ezra Easton (who is a dragon shiftier). I have not yet read the other books, so for me this was a standalone book. Sam is trying to find information on the man/group that killed her mentor. In doing that she had to go undercover to try to get information. Doing so has placed her on a ship that now she is having to escape from. When she in rescued by Ezra who find her unconscious. Ezra is after the same people Sam is but at first he not sure if she is with the people that he and his fellow brothers are looking for. But Ezra does know that he is attracted to her and 'his dragon' is not wanting him to hurt her. Sam too is unsure at first if Ezra is a friend or foe. But the soon learn what the other is about and Ezra trust her enough to let her into his secret of his dragon.
I so enjoyed this book that I want to go back and find the other!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

BooksInBrogan

More than 1 year ago

I really like this one I had not read the first 2 in the series but had no problem following the book and now I will go back to read the first 2 because I loved the characters and N.J. Walters writing is as alway fun to read.

tigerlilly_liz

More than 1 year ago

Drakon’s Plunder is book three in the Blood of the Drakon series by N.J. Walters.
I’ve been enjoy this series. I like the drakons, half man, half dragon, who are solitary except for the occasional interactions they have between the four brothers. Once they meet their mate; their love is unrestrained, their passion is explosive, and they are unmatched in their protectiveness.
Ezra I’ve wanted to meet him since the moment he was introduced. He’s a water darken and needs the sea. The man is a recluse, owns his on island, and a salvage company on the main land.
Sam’s an archaeologist and she has a specially gift for finding artifacts seeped in magic or myth. She took a job with the Knights, so she could get revenge for them killing her friend.
Danger is every present throughout the story. We also get a little deeper into the workings of the Knights and their goals. Sam & Ezra’s relationship is fast. Their chemistry is fierce and fiery from the moment they meet. I liked these two together, but I was a little sad with how quickly their relationship went. I wanted a little more, push and pull, not a total in all at once. The other area of disappointment for me was in them sleeping together after only knowing each other for 6 hrs. With this being an insta-love story, you know that everything is going to be quick.
Drakon’s Plunder was a satisfactory read. It didn’t blow my mind, but I still enjoyed it. I'm curious about the fourth brother Nic and I'm looking forward to his story. This story can be read as a stand-a-lone, but the books are best read in order.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

LindaBr1

More than 1 year ago

This is Book 3 in the Blood of the Drakon’s series. It can be read as a stand alone and you will understand what’s going on with no problems. Sam is an archaeologist who specializes in ancient languages and mythology, especially ancient lore and magic. She had been born with a 6th sense when it comes to finding ancient texts, paintings and things like that. If other scholars made fun of it, then she went after it. She’s on the boat, Integrity, to document items being salvaged from the Reliant which had sunk in the mid-1800’ss. There’s an artifact that she steals before leaving the boat in the middle of the night. This is when she meets Ezra. There’s so much exciting and dangerous things going on in this book! We learn about 4000 year old Drakons and how they begin. It’s all really exciting things and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Now I’m off to buy Book 1 and 2 so I can catch up with the rest of the crew. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy that I received from Netgalley.

caroldh4

More than 1 year ago

Drakon’s Plunder is book three in the Blood of the Drakon series by N.J. Walters. I am so in love with this series. How could I not be? These drakons, half man, half dragon, who have lived four thousand years in a mostly solitary existence except for the occasional interaction between the four brothers. These drakons that once they meet their mate, once they fall in love, they love with a ferocity that is unbridled, a passion that ignites, a protectiveness that is unrivaled. These drakon men have stolen my heart. I was especially excited about getting to know Ezra, the man who in the previous books rarely even spoke. I think Ezra stole my heart even more than the others. I hope you’ll read on and let me tell you about him.
Ezra Easton was a water drakon. He could breathe fire as all drakons could but his element was the water. He needed to be near the sea. He could swim with the fish of the ocean as easily as he could walk on the land. He owned a private island off the coast of Maine where he led a quiet, solitary existence. He owned a salvage company on the main land.
If a human drinks the blood of a drakon, it would heal any illness and keep them alive forever, as long as they continued to drink the blood regularly. Karina Azarov is the head of the Knights of the Dragons, a secret organization intent on capturing drakons in order to drink their blood. She is currently looking for any ancient artifacts that would help her in her quest to capture the drakons. She has hired Sam Bellamy, an archaeologist specializing in finding ancient artifacts.
Sam wants revenge against the Knights for killing her mentor, a man who was like a father to her. So she took the job with the Knights and is currently aboard a ship searching for sunken artifacts. When she finds something that she senses holds an evil power, she tries to escape the ship, only to be rescued by a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere.
This is how Ezra and Sam first meet but only the first time Ezra will be required to save his beautiful Sam. The pull between them is immediate. All Ezra can think about is that he has to protect this beautiful human with the flaming red curls, that she was made for him, that she is his mate. He watched two of his brothers go through it and now he understands so much better what they experienced.
“I plucked you out of the sea, you’re mine now.”
“I’m not salvage.”
“No, you’re not salvage. You’re treasure. My treasure.”
As love quickly develops between these two, danger grows. Sam is now missing and so is the artifact she found. And there are those that won’t rest until they’ve found it. Sam, without really understanding what Ezra really is, knows that she is bringing danger to Ezra’s door step. But Ezra is not letting his human out of his sight. She’s his now and he will protect her with all that he is.
“He’d faced entire armies in centuries past without batting an eye, but this one woman’s touch made him tremble.”
I absolutely loved Sam and Ezra. They truly were made for one another. We don’t get much of the other two brothers and their new mates except for phone conversations but we do get a hint of Nic, the only brother left who hasn’t found his mate. And there are some other little hints throughout, just little things that I hope turn in to bigger things in the next book.
I literally couldn’t put this down. I was grabbed immediately and stayed that way throughout.

Brigittehf

More than 1 year ago

I am fast becoming a fan of this author and I absolutely love the concept of this series. Fabulous!
Ezra is one of the four Drakons' brothers. He owns a salvage company and enjoys living on his own on his private island. Being a water Drakon, he is in his element when he is in and near the sea.
Sam is an archaeologist who has a gift with certain artifacts. She suspects that her mentor has been murdered and wants some form of payback and, takes a job with the Knights of the Dragons to do just that. She believes that Dragons are mythical but, the Knights hunt them for power through greed.
When Sam feels the vibration of one of the artifacts recovered by the diving team during their excavation, she sees the opportunity to get her revenge. This object is quite likely what the Knights want and, she has no intentions of passing it on to them. She devises a plan to get away but, unfortunately, one of the ruthless Knights goes after her.
Ezra witnesses the attack on Sam and when she is injured, he does what any gentleman would do, even though, he suspects that she might be one of the Knights. He takes her to his home and tends to her. Funnily enough, Sam is not afraid of him when she recovers. Apprehensive. Yes. Who wouldn't be? She is taken by the colour of his eyes and his godlike physique as much as he is taken by her hair and her eyes. Well, and the rest. Their interactions are tentative to begin with, but they both want answers. They start trusting each other and most questions are answered. The attraction between them is palpable and when they give in, it's electric.
As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Sam did the right thing by removing the artifact from the ship. What they learn about this item is frightening. In the meantime, the Knights are intent on finding her. Dead or alive! Now that Ezra had found her, he intends on protecting her and keeping her. Strangely enough, Sam feels the same way. She is in mortal danger but, she would do anything to keep the Knights away from Ezra. Can they pull it off?
There is less action in this instalment as opposed to the first two but, suspense and mystery abound. The love between Sam and Ezra is steamy and passionate. It's good to see that the other brothers are always there, in the background with their support. I have enjoyed all three books in this series. They are addictive and compelling. Nic is the more sociable brother, and the insight into his life indicates that appearance can be deceiving. I am looking forward to read his story.
I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

bouncyberthaCR

More than 1 year ago

4.5 - "Never doubt your value." Stars!
We return to the Blood of the Drakon series, with the third book; Drakon’s Plunder finally giving us Ezra Easton’s story.
I am abso-blooming-loving, this series. N. J Walters has really hit the mother-lode with the guys/drakons that these books are telling the stories of, and just like his brothers before him, I absolutely adored Ezra. Nothing gets my girly parts zinging more than an Alpha growly male, going all possessive over the woman destined to be his mate, and Ezra was all that and a bar of chocolate.
She was his. He’d found her in the ocean, plucked her from the sea. By the laws of maritime salvage, that meant she belonged to him now…
Once again the author managed to give the reader a really great love story between Ezra and Sam, another strong willed, sassy woman, not afraid to speak her mind, and do what she believes is the right thing. All the while their mutual enemy the Knights of the Dragon are still looking for clues as to whether there are further Drakon in existence and for ancient spells and curses to help them capture and use the Drakon for their blood.
It was rare for both sides of his nature-man and beast to be at peace. Sam gave him that.”
As with the last book I felt this part of the bigger story hardly moved along in the scheme of things, in fact there hasn’t been a huge amount of development around Karina Azarov, Herman Temple, and the whole Knights plot since the author set it all up in book one to be honest, a few bad guys may have died along the way, but nothing else of real note(yet). But after reading this one I have a feeling I know why, not that I can say as that would be a huge spoiler!
He’d bring ruin to the world before he’d let anyone take her from him…
That-said I still absolutely adored this book, there is involvement from the previous characters as well, so that keeps everything cohesive and current, and some of the banter between Ezra and his brothers bought a few giggles to the fore.
"I haven’t known you very long, but it feels like I’ve known you forever."
This isn’t a series you can just dip into, you definitely need to read it from the beginning, I also love that the author/publisher are keeping the break between releases small, it means that I am not spending the first few chapters of each book trying to recall everything that has happened previously. On that point I really hope that we don’t have to wait for the next book, Nicodemus Wilde, has been the most un-involved of the brothers up to this point in the story, so I cannot wait to get to know him better.
"You’re never leaving me. Not while I have blood in my body."

Erani_Kole

More than 1 year ago

*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from IndieSage PR*
LOOOVED this latest installment in the Blood of the Drakon series. Ezra has always been an interesting character from the first book because he was a water drakon with his own island, and the hermit mentality to pair well with his one-man adventures involving treasure and artifacts under the sea. Like, he's every mermaid's dream. And I enjoyed Sam a lot! It was almost hilarious though with how often he had to save her from getting hypothermia, like... yikes. It's almost like the gods gave her that one thing because of how hot and passionate she was about everything else. This was a lighter read to me, it felt like. More laughter, more feel-good vibes. It almost scares me with what Nic may have to deal with lol. An overall enjoyable, beautiful feel-good-yes-please story that I won't be getting over anytime soon.

closkot

More than 1 year ago

My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! I loved this book, so I bought it and the rest of the series to read!
The cover is beautiful and my favorite kind because it has both gorgeous beasts on the cover!
This is the 3rd book in the series, but it is the first one I’m reading. I saw the book, and it intrigued me. I didn’t know there were others at the time, but I do now and have bought them all. I also had another reading friend tell me I would like these, and she was sooo right! This book is for adults only due to the steamy content and violence.
N.J. creates a really unique and awesome world! Wow, she had me from the start, and it is really cool! I especially loved the difference between dragons and drakons.
I really liked Sam from the beginning because she is brave and fierce when it comes to people she cares about. Ezra has a similar personality when it comes to his family. He is not sure why, but he is drawn to Sam. Sam is brilliant and makes some compelling arguments and hypotheses that represent it. This book is action packed with all the trouble with the Knights. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
I highly recommend to any dragon or drakon lover because this book was awesome and action-packed!

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